World Cup 2108: French star Antoine Griezmann struggles to name Australian players
TO French superstar Antoine Griezmann the Socceroos are a bunch of physical, unsophisticated no-names - but Bert van Marwijk’s men aren’t taking the snub personally.
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FRENCH superstar Antoine Griezmann says he is not worried that Australia will take an overly physical approach in Saturday’s World Cup opener but admits he only knows of a few players within the Socceroos’ squad.
“Considering Australia I am not afraid they will be physical because they are not as tactical,’’ the forward told a press conference at the team’s base near Istra on the outskirts of Moscow. “It will be hard to play against them.
“Tactically we will have to be strong and defensively as well.
“I know two or three players and it will be hard and tomorrow we are going to watch videos of Australia to work on it.’’
Griezmann did not elaborate on which players he was familiar with, but at a press conference the previous day France coach Didier Deschamps mentioned the threat posed by Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic and Urawa Red Diamonds forward Andrew Nabbout.
However, Griezmann said the first game of the World Cup was crucial for his team.
“Winning the first game is very important,’’ he said.
“I think it is the most important in the group, especially at a team level.”
The Atletico Madrid forward said the team had come to Russia with the expectation it could win the World Cup.
“If we don’t think we can win the World Cup we would be better staying in France, so yes we want to win it,’’ he said. “We have the players to do something great.’”
Many teams would angrily seize on Griezmann’s comments as motivational fodder but the Socceroos aren’t taking the snub personally.
The fact that France’s $350,000-a-week striker admitted he hardly knew any of the Australians just reinforces their determination to make sure he’s well aware of their abilities by the final whistle in the opening game on Saturday night.
Though midfielder Jackson Irvine admitted it will take a “near-perfect performance” to get a positive result against France, the Australian squad are increasingly unconcerned about the near-universal dismissal of their chances in the game.
The lack of recognition points up the challenge facing Bert van Marwijk’s squad, though all of them are well aware of how easily a reputation can be made when the world is watching.
“It’s not unusual to be in that sort of situation when you’re playing against one of the top nations,” said Irvine in response to Griezmann’s comments.
“We’re all aware of their individuals and the levels they play at domestically. We still believe that if we get it right, and get our structures and organisation spot on, we’re capable of causing them problems.
“You have to go into the game believing. It will take a near-perfect performance, as it does at any level when you play against top side.
“You need to have the discipline spot on, make no mistakes, be organised in transition. At the end of the day you’ll need your goalie to make a few saves as well, you need that all-round performance in these kinds of games.
“It all has to come together on the day, and you have to be clinical in front of goal too because there may not be too many chances.”
Those chances could fall to Andrew Nabbout — who despite an incredible ascent in a matter of weeks from the A-League to the World Cup was one of the players mentioned by France boss Didier Deschamp as offering a goal threat to his side.
“It comes down to the day,” Nabbout said. “They could have the biggest-name players but if they don’t perform, everyone’s exploitable.
“They’re a quality side, of course, and we’re expecting minimal errors. It’s our job to force them into those errors.
“At the end of the day, It’s about how we play. If we’re on our game on our day we’re going to cause any team problems.”
Nabbout can expect to closely marked, given Deschamp’s focus on him. “To be recognised by him is pretty big,” Nabbout said. “I’m going to go out there and prove him right.”
Griezmann, meanwhile, is one of the favourites to win the tournament’s Golden Boot as top scorer but said the pressure to perform at football’s biggest event did not bother him.
“I don’t think I have the biggest responsibility (in the team) but I know everyone expects a lot from me. I know people trust me. I want to take the team as far as possible. I am ready.’’
He declined to address speculation on his own future after the World Cup. Griezmann is one of the world’s most in-demand footballers and has been linked with a move away from his current club.
“Yes, I have made a decision but it not the right moment and the right place to say about it,’’ he said.
Griezmann’s France team mate Steven Nzonzi hosed down a question that Australia would be the easiest game the team would play in the first round of the World Cup.
“All games will be hard to play and I don’t think there will be any opponent that will be easier to play than the other,’’ the midfielder said.
“Sometimes we think the easiest one will be the hardest actually to play.’’
Originally published as World Cup 2108: French star Antoine Griezmann struggles to name Australian players
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